Across the oceans, exploring otherness, finding love in Devi Yesodharan’s ‘The Outsiders’

Devi Yesodharan’s novel masterfully captures the essence of “otherness”. It delves into the undefined gap that gnaws at the hearts of those who don’t belong, whether due to ethnicity, race, economic status, or simply not being in a place that feels familiar and safe. ‘The Outsiders’ poignantly addresses the feelings of loss and homesickness that can overwhelm immigrants, along with the sadness and discomfort that follow in their wake.

The novel features two protagonists, each from distinct stories set in different times and places. Yesodharan employs the ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ technique of a story within a story, with the second narrative emerging from the first. Both stories are intricately woven together. The protagonists, both migrants, grapple with the challenge of belonging in foreign lands. This layered storytelling style allows Yesodharan to explore the complex theme of human dislocation across various periods, contexts and geographies.

Nita, a teacher from Kerala, migrates to Dubai in the 1990s in search of better opportunities. Her job, as a tutor to a little girl in a wealthy family, often makes her feel servile, but offers her a unique perspective on the opulent lifestyles of Arab families. She discovers that despite the wealth and luxury they command, women exist in a patriarchal system that grants them no real agency and forces them to operate within the restrictions imposed by men. Curiously, although being an immigrant isn’t easy, Nita begins to feel a greater sense of belonging in this foreign land than she ever did at her school in Kerala, where she felt scorned and belittled by the rich girls she taught.

Nita narrates the story of Darius, a young adventurer in ancient India, who sets sail for the ancient port of Muziris. Her audience is Rouhi, her employer, a lonely woman captivated by this imaginary world of adventure and possibilities. The stories of Nita and Darius seamlessly segue into each other. Both Nita, in search of a better livelihood, and Darius, seeking his fortune, hail from underserved classes. They have crossed oceans — an allegory for separation — leaving their families behind to rise above their humble beginnings. As they settle down and work hard to achieve their dreams, their plans go awry when the unexpected happens: they fall in love. The entanglement of emotions brings both intense passion and lurking danger.

Yesodharan excels at creating sensory experiences for the reader. Through vivid conversations, an arresting description of expensive perfumes and designer clothes, the wafting aroma and texture of food, and the electric bustle of the marketplace, she brings her scenes to life. “The food tents beckon with their intoxicating smells. Flies gather fat and gleaming, on tentpoles and baskets despite the burning incense, feasting for free. Walking through one narrow lane, Darius smells the same kyphi incense, a mix of honey, wine, juniper and kanan flowers that they burn back home during funeral rites and is overwhelmed for the moment with severe homesickness and sadness.”

Yesodharan’s tongue-in-cheek humour is transferred to both her protagonists. Nita’s wry observations save her from becoming the caricature of a submissive woman employed in a rich household. “Nita, (who) thinks that men are particularly susceptible to reading softness in women’s faces when there is none…” Darius’ humour is more robust and earthy, fitting his sailor’s profession.

Both Nita and Darius are spirited and undaunted, despite the curveballs life throws at them. Even in strange lands, while combating unequal odds, their resilient human spirit persists and prevails.

— The writer is based in Chandigarh